Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,… Read Full Bio ↴Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States in 1980. The band originally consisted of Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (bass), and Victor DeLorenzo (drums), with Guy Hoffman replacing DeLorenzo following his departure starting in 1993 and up until his return in 2002. The band split in early 2009, their last recording being a cover of the Gnarls Barkley song "Crazy", a response to Gnarls Barkley's cover of the Femmes song "Gone Daddy Gone" released the previous year. In January 2013, it was announced that the Violent Femmes would be reuniting and performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. They performed there, the Bottlerock Napa Valley in May and Milwaukee's Summerfest in June. The band is also on the bill for Riot Fest, which will take place in Chicago in September.
Drummer Victor DeLorenzo said that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes, but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione would be replacing DeLorenzo as the band's drummer. In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes." Viglione is credited as the drummer on the 2016 release We Can Do Anything but would later be replaced by John Sparrow, who had played in the Violent Femmes backing band previously.

Their music is an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often express both a lyrical and musical sense of humor. Critics often attribute the Violent Femmes as laying the groundwork of dynamicism for the 90s grunge movement.

In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. The band signed to Slash Records and recorded their eponymous debut in July 1982.

The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone"). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release, and "Blister in the Sun" has become an alternative rock radio staple.

Thanksgiving
Violent Femmes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I see no way out.
I feel a closing in.
Living this way, I won't live this way.
Its no way to live.

I am not grateful.
I am hateful.
I see stupid things,

So i say stupid things.

One thing I know I want to go
Where my heart can't hurt no more.
I am not grateful.
I am hateful.

I am not grateful.
I am painful.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Violent Femmes' song "Thanksgiving" are quite introspective, as they seem to paint a picture of someone who is feeling trapped and overwhelmed by their thoughts and emotions. The first couple of lines reflect a sense of hopelessness and helplessness, as the singer feels boxed in and unable to escape their current situation. This is followed by a declaration that they cannot continue living in this way.

The next lines express a sense of anger and frustration, culminating in the admission that the singer is not feeling grateful but, in fact, hateful. This is likely a reaction to the singer's circumstances and the people around them, which they perceive as being "stupid" or foolish. The repetition of the line "I am not grateful. I am hateful" adds emphasis and reinforces the idea that the singer's emotions are at a boiling point.

The final lines of the song suggest a desire to escape or run away from their pain and negative feelings, as they long to go "where my heart can't hurt no more." The final repeating line, "I am not grateful. I am painful" underscores the idea that the singer is struggling with intense emotions and is unable to feel thankful or positive.

Overall, the song Thanksgiving by Violent Femmes speaks to the struggles many people feel in dealing with difficult emotions, particularly during the holidays when there can be pressure to feel festive and joyful. The lyrics capture a sense of frustration and despair, as well as a desire for escape and relief from pain.

Line by Line Meaning

I see no way out.
I am feeling trapped in my current situation and cannot see a solution or escape.

I feel a closing in.
The situation is suffocating and getting worse with time, making me feel more and more trapped.

Living this way, I won't live this way.
Continuing to live under these circumstances is not an option for me – I need to change things to survive.

Its no way to live.
The current conditions are causing me to suffer and are not sustainable in the long term.

I am not grateful.
Despite the occasion of Thanksgiving, I am unable to find anything to be thankful for given my circumstances.

I am hateful.
My unhappiness and frustration are causing me to feel angry and resentful towards the world around me.

I see stupid things,
I am surrounded by situations that seem illogical, pointless, or foolish to me.

So i say stupid things.
My frustration and anger cause me to lash out and say things that are unkind, irrational, or inappropriate.

One thing I know I want to go
Despite my uncertainty about my future, I am sure that I need to leave my current situation to find peace and happiness.

Where my heart can't hurt no more.
My heart is currently broken and vulnerable, and I need to escape to a place where I am safe from further pain and heartbreak.

I am painful.
My feelings of unhappiness and discontent are causing me to suffer emotionally and physically.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GORDON GANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS